A Visually Pleasing Foldable Hair Dryer

JiyounKim Studio previously presented Conbox, a foldable fan, as a part of an internal project, Redefined Project, that redefines the roles of ordinary devices we use in our everyday lives. In this second project, we question how hair dryers suppose to exist in its unused form.

Design Team

JiyounKim Studio

Designed by Jiyoun Kim, Junyoung Jang

The hair dryer, initially invented by Alexandre F. Golefoy in late 19th century, is a device used to speed up the drying wet hair. Force and conveniences of the hairdryer are the only elements proclaimed by the countless number of new products released in the market each year. Is this going to be enough for the hair dryers serving people in the contemporary world?

We usually keep our hair dryers inside a drawer with an unorganized cord. This made us realize it might be a good time to reconsider how we store our hair dryers.

Squared Dryer, without obliterating its functionalities and rationalities of the device, is designed to encompass another core value: a spatially effective way to store. The device can be stored in a visually organized square form with its foldable knob via a rotatable hinge and the electric cord effectively kept inside a translucent case. Of course, combining the case with three different types of gradient color and folded device brings a sculpture like image to its users.

3 Comments

I'd like to give you my thoughts on the project, for what they're worth.I think that focusing on the storage of the appliance is a good idea for smaller appartments and for those who dislike spaceship styled appliances. There are foldable hardryers in the market but often (if ever?) the cable is not resolved and they are not something you'd like to see on your counter top, so I think in terms of form this is a good idea.

My only doubt would be that, as much as I personally dislike the organic ergonomic style of 90% of hairdryers, and as much as I love the Muji-esque shape of this one I wonder how this flat-section large-headed form factor woud work in use, and would that small hinge respond well to daily use? This is not critical because some products don't aim to be the most ergonomic but the neatest. The base is lovely, would it be spray painted? I think the weight distribution would make the product very easy to topple.

Finally I'd like to say I really love the sketches, wonderful style complete opposite of the "PRODUCT DESIGNER" wanky sketches you see so often, very architectural, they remind me of Ronan Bouroullec's sketches.

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